Wales can take an enormous leap towards qualifying for Euro 2024 on Thursday evening when they host Finland in the play-off semi-final.
Rob Page’s side failed to automatically qualify for this summer’s tournament, finishing behind Turkey and Croatia in Group D. Their 2022/23 UEFA Nations League performance means they have another shot at booking a ticket to Germany this summer, but they will have to navigate a tricky tie against Finland and then a play-off final should they beat the Scandinavian side.
Wales are favourites for the clash in Cardiff and currently sit 31 places above Finland in the FIFA rankings. They also enter the game following a good run of form and are six games unbeaten, with a home win against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in that run.
The Dragons’ pivotal clash with Finland will be broadcast on a range of platforms within the United Kingdom, with those in Wales able to tune in on S4C and S4C Clic. The fixture is also being shown on the BBC iPlayer, as well as Viaplay Sports 1.
In the United States, the match is available on Fox Sports and ViX, while those in Canada can tune into the action on DAZN.
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer, Viaplay Sports 1, Viaplay UK |
|
United States |
Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports App, Foxsports.com, ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Wales have met Finland on a surprisingly frequent basis in the past, with 15 clashes between the two nations previously. The most recent encounter was a goalless draw in a friendly back in 2021, with their last competitive match-up seeing Wales secure a 3-1 win in Cardiff during the 2020/21 Nations League.
|
Team |
Wales |
Finland |
|---|---|---|
|
Won |
6 |
4 |
|
Drawn |
5 |
5 |
|
Goals scored |
21 |
13 |
|
Biggest win |
4-0 – April 1987 |
2-0 – March 2009 |
With a date against either Poland or Estonia in the Euro 2024 play-off final up for grabs, both Wales and Finland will be desperate to come out victorious at the Cardiff City Stadium. That could very well make for a cagey affair in the Welsh capital, with past meetings also suggesting there won’t be a lot to separate the sides.
However, Wales should progress given the weight of home advantage, while they have beaten Croatia and managed respectable draws against Armenia and Turkey in their last three games.
With the Premier League quality and experience in the squad, they should get the job done.
Prediction: Wales 2-1 Finland
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